City labs suspected of ephedrine production under NCB scanner

NCB got wind of a major network when they seized four consignments of ephedrine this year and was able to track one of the main agents of the network who recruited carriers for smugglers. The smuggling network, modelled on the infamous drug cartels of South America, work very discreetly, where the main operatives always remain elusive. 

The ephedrine smuggling racket easily makes anywhere between Rs.6 to 7 crore a month.  NCB estimates suggest that 100 kg of the drug is easily produced in these labs in Chennai and from their other suppliers in Hyderabad and Visakapatinam. The drug, produced at a cost of less than Rs.1 lakh is sold for Rs. 7 lakh per kilo in the international market. 

NCB had seized 30 kg of pseudo ephedrine and 5 kg of ephedrine this month  and another 9 kg of ephedrine from Madurai earlier in March. 

“It is a well-established network. There is only one person in control of the production and a single stockist. The third tier consists of several agents who only supervise appointment of carriers to take the drug abroad,” a senior NCB official told DTNext.

“We are yet to single out these labs but the cartel is very active in the city,” the official said. The drug cartel is not bothered about the seizures as ephedrine is not included in the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, he added.